The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

In the ``On My Own'' series, a straightforward story based on a childhood incident recorded in Jay's autobiography. When his father gets word of an escaping slave, he tells Allen to hide him, adding (in the Quaker idiom), ``if thee does this, thee must not tell me or anyone''--thus making it possible to mislead pursuers without a direct lie. This deception, plus insistence on ``the correct papers'' before the posse searches, gains time for Allen to take ``Henry James'' by night to relatives, who get him safely to Ohio. With telling, authentic details, Brill does a good job of incorporating basics about the Underground Railroad into her narrative and bringing out its suspense. As for character, James is an assertive man who, interestingly, carries a gun; Allen is credibly courageous and quick-witted. The art, in a sturdy style rendered in muted pastels, quietly accentuates the drama. A solid contribution. Note; afterword. (Nonfiction/Easy reader. 5-10)

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